Vernon, N.Y. -- Parkhill Horton ($24.60) took full advantage
of a clear pocket trip in Saturday's $7,500 top-level Miracle Mile Trot at
Vernon Downs, upsetting odds-on pacesetter Lucid Thoughts in 1:54.4.
Truman Gale secured the pocket from the outset with the
8-year-old Oaklea Julian gelding, yielding to Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald)
and drafting cozily through splits of :27.3, :56.4, and 1:25.3. Just above the
eighth pole, Parkhill Horton vacated the pegs, reeled in Lucid Thoughts, and
edged away to a 1-1/2 length victory while driven. Lucid Thoughts held second,
while Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore) sustained a mild bid off the far turn to
capture third.
Trainer Robert Gale co-owns Parkhill Horton with Jeffrey
Agan and David Adsit.
The "New York Night Train" also took the evening's
sub-featured $5,500 Miracle Mile trotting event in upset fashion with 15-1
longshot Painite ($33.60). Jocelyn Gale--Truman's wife--handles the training
duties of the 7-year-old Plesac mare, who rallied down the grandstand side off
a third-over trip to just collar 8-5 favorite Gaelic and Garlic (Claude
Huckabone, III) in 1:55.1.
A 14-race Sunday evening card completes the racing week at
Vernon Downs, with the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters
sharing center stage with the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing
fillies. Post time is slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
